Flame On! Garlic Festival Kicks Off

With a burst of flame from the pans of its legendary “pyro chefs,” Gilroy’s world-famous Garlic Festival kicked off its 33rd edition with gusto on Friday.

Festival President Kurt Svardal was the first to light the torch, passing the flame from atop the giant garlic bulb along a line of festival dignitaries and into the hands of Pyro Chef Bob Filice shortly before 10 a.m.

Filice lit the grills that would remain busy throughout the weekend, dedicating the moment to the memory of his late father, Val Filice. Svardal also asked that attendees take a moment in memory of past president, Susanne Gardino, and dedicated volunteer, Gayle Glines.

More than 12,000 people had purchased tickets online by Friday morning, and another 3,500–4,000 had pre-purchased a “combo plate” meal, said festival Executive Director Brian Bowe, who has served for six festivals.

Svardal emphasized that much of the money generated by the festival would go to local organizations—more than $270,000 was donated last year, and $8,795,322 has been donated over the past 33 years.

“That doesn’t include all the other donations here,” he said, noting booths from organizations like the Gilroy Foundation. “With that, we probably donate half a million.” 

Mayor of Gilroy’s sister city in Mexico, Javier Urbalejo, helped to pass the torch. It would usually be a moment shared by representatives of Japanese sister city, Takko-Machi, but those plans were put on hold after the massive earthquake that rocked the country in March.